Embodiments describe a method for moisturizing soil at an open construction site. The method includes determining a target soil moisture level for the soil at the open construction site; measuring a current soil moisture level of a location within the open construction site with a moisture sensor while the moisture control system is moving along a predetermined path across the site; storing the current soil moisture level of the location in memory; determining a target volume of water for achieving the target soil moisture level at the location based on the current soil moisture level at the location; calculating a target application rate to achieve the target soil moisture level at the location based on the target volume of water; and applying the target volume of water at the target application rate to the location when the system is positioned to dispense water at the location of the site.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. A method for moisturizing soil at an open construction site, comprising: determining a target degree of compaction for the soil at the open construction site; determining, by a soil moisture control system, a target soil moisture level for achieving the target degree of compaction of the soil at the open construction site; measuring, by the soil moisture control system, a current soil moisture level of a location within the open construction site with a plurality of moisture sensors arranged perpendicular to a direction of travel while the soil moisture control system is moving along a predetermined path across the open construction site; storing, by the soil moisture control system, the current soil moisture level of the location in memory; determining, by the soil moisture control system, a target volume of water for achieving the target soil moisture level at the location based on the current soil moisture level at the location; calculating, by the soil moisture control system, a target application rate to achieve the target soil moisture level at the location based on the target volume of water; and applying, by the soil moisture control system, the target volume of water at the target application rate to the location when the soil moisture control system is positioned to dispense water at the location of the open construction site.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the location is a first location and the method further comprises measuring, by the soil moisture control system, a current moisture level of a second location within the open construction site with the plurality of moisture sensors while the soil moisture control system is moving along the predetermined path across the open construction site.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the second location is located at a point farther along the predetermined path than the first location.
4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the measuring of the current moisture level of the second location occurs while the soil moisture control system is dispensing water at the first location.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the target soil moisture level is based on binding characteristics of the soil to minimize dust or to achieve a certain level of soil compaction.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the target volume of water is based on a difference between the target soil moisture level and the current soil moisture level.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the target volume of water is based on forecast evaporation rates of the open construction site and a time at which a construction activity is to be performed at the open construction site following dispensing of water at the open construction site.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the location is a line of soil measureable by the plurality of moisture sensors.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the soil moisture control system includes a water dispenser configured to dispense different volumes of water at different locations along the line of soil.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the water dispenser includes a plurality of independently controllable nozzles.
11. A computer product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium storing a plurality of instructions that when executed control an electronic device including one or more processors, the instructions comprising: accessing a target degree of compaction for soil at an open construction site; determining, by a soil moisture control system, a target soil moisture level for achieving the target degree of compaction of the soil at the open construction site; measuring, by the soil moisture control system, a current soil moisture level of a location within the open construction site with a plurality of moisture sensors arranged perpendicular to a direction of travel while the soil moisture control system is moving along a predetermined path across the open construction site; storing, by the soil moisture control system, the current soil moisture level of the location in memory; determining, by the soil moisture control system, a target volume of water for achieving the target soil moisture level at the location based on the current soil moisture level at the location; calculating, by the soil moisture control system, a target application rate to achieve the target soil moisture level at the location based on the target volume of water; and applying, by the soil moisture control system, the target volume of water at the target application rate to the location when the soil moisture control system is positioned to dispense water at the location of the open construction site.
12. The computer product of claim 11 , wherein the location is a first location and the instructions further comprise measuring, by the soil moisture control system, a current moisture level of a second location within the open construction site with the plurality of moisture sensors while the soil moisture control system is moving along the predetermined path across the open construction site.
13. The computer product of claim 12 , wherein the second location is located at a point farther along the predetermined path than the first location.
14. The computer product of claim 12 , wherein the measuring of the current moisture level of the second location occurs while the soil moisture control system is dispensing water at the first location.
15. The computer product of claim 11 , wherein the target soil moisture level is based on binding characteristics of the soil to minimize dust or to achieve a certain level of soil compaction.
16. A system for moisturizing soil at an open construction site, comprising: one or more information modules configured to receive and send information, the one or more information modules including a plurality of moisture sensors positioned at a front of a water truck and arranged perpendicular to a direction of travel; memory configured to store data; a water dispenser positioned at a back of the water truck and configured to dispense water through one or more nozzles into the soil at the open construction site; a control interface for displaying information to a user; and a soil moisture control module formed of one or more processors coupled to the one or more information modules, the memory, the water dispenser, and the control interface, wherein the soil moisture control module is configured to: determine a target soil moisture level for the soil at the open construction site; measure a current soil moisture level of a first location on a line of soil and a current soil moisture level of a second location on the line of soil within the open construction site with the plurality of moisture sensors while the system is moving along a predetermined path across the open construction site, wherein the line of soil is perpendicular to the predetermined path; store the current soil moisture level of the first and second locations in memory; determine a first target volume of water for achieving the target soil moisture level at the first location based on the current soil moisture level at the first location; determine a second target volume of water for achieving the target soil moisture level at the second location based on the current soil moisture level at the second location; calculate a first target application rate and a second target application rate to achieve the target soil moisture level at the first and second locations based on the first and second target volumes of water; and apply the first and second target volumes of water at the first and second target application rates to the first and second locations respectively when the system is positioned to dispense water at the first and second locations of the open construction site.
17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the one or more information modules include at least one of a communication module, a positioning module, and an input device.
18. The system of claim 16 , wherein the soil moisture control module is coupled to a vehicle control system that includes a vehicle control module for controlling an operation of the water truck without user involvement.
19. The system of claim 18 , wherein the vehicle control system further includes a camera, a distance sensor, and a motor with steering to control the operation of the water truck.
20. The system of claim 16 , wherein the soil moisture control module is further configured to determine current site characteristics of the open construction site, the current site characteristics including at least one of a temperature at the open construction site, wind speed and direction at the open construction site, and a slope gradient of one or more areas of the open construction site.
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April 10, 2019
November 9, 2021
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